The genisis with the Weber crafted options is the best Weber I’ve ever owned. I have the SPX 435. Having the ability to have half griddle, half grates is awesome for cooking full meals that require different cooking methods. The ease of switching out the griddle, searing grates, or pizza stone game changing. I seasoned the griddle once, now just scrape off the food and wipe it down with a paper towel. I do store the griddle inside as opposed to the side cabinet just to avoid rust from the humidity. Not sure if that’s necessary, but it’s easy enough so better safe than sorry. My last 06 genesis is still going strong and almost 20yrs old. One of the few products left tha the name represents quality.
Thank you for the comment! I agree about the quality - you buy once and cry once! I do think that older generation models are higher quality than what is available now. It is still better than other brands but I wish I bought mine sooner. Hope you get to enjoy yours for many years to come and come back to watch more videos! Thank you for watching!
I don't have this insert but i have a little griddle brand griddle for my weber spirit. The pros over a blackstone or even a weber griddle is these propane grills have a functional lid. You can retain heat longer, heat the griddle faster because you can close it. You can get these things super hot because of the functional lid. You can use the warming tray to finish off a seared steak or vice versa. I also have the new weber traveler 22 inch griddle. The lid is non functional but i love to use it when I go camping. And a plus is that the griddle plate fits perfectly on my weber spirit. As if it was actually made for it. But my favorite for griddle cooking is my weber spirit amongst other thing's.
Amen to the functional lid! It makes the cooking go faster! I would like to try the travel griddle too! Buying a Weber has need a great investment for having so much fun in the back yard. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and comment. Please come back for more!
My kids got me one of these for Father's Day. I've watched all the vids, thought it would be fun and interesting. My friend has a Blackstone that his kids got him, it's a dedicated griddle. both of us have discovered it's not for us. the pros, does what it's supposed to and results in a good cook. cons - the mess, the stuff you have to have on hand, the disposal of the mess, all the extra tools, the controlling 3 or so foods at one time. maybe after ALOT of practice it may be more fun but for now it's just another thing we have to store.
I do agree you have to spend a lot more to buy more things to be able to cook. It does make a mess and it gets HOT! Maybe I need to do a video for those extra items people don’t know about before getting into the griddle game!
I bought this on sale about a month ago and it works great! You’re right about it taking a while to heat up and once you start cooking something cold you would have to make sure you have a hot spot to flip it on. Otherwise very good quality… maybe next year will be a dedicated flat top Weber!
Glad it worked out for you! I just made some smash burgers this week and I’m still loving it! Thank you for watching the video and leaving me a comment! I’m just happy that my review aligns with your experiences!
I used mine for about 2 months. It was amazing and used it almost everyday. UNTIL the huge grease fire. The fire ended up ruining the griddle insert. I finally bought a dedicated griddle. Live and learn but it did show me how awesome griddles are so no regrets
Con 1 and 5 are the same also 2 is not true IMO. The great thing about this being a grill insert is the grill lid. The trick is simply this, turn on the grill and close the lid. When the temp on the gauge reads 400 degrees, you are ready to rock! 5 to 8 minutes tops!
As much as I wanted one for my Genesis 310 I opted for the Made In carbon steel griddle. Less expensive, fits in my indoor gas cooktop and easier to clean. The only real downside is the size vs the Weber.
Thank you for watching the video! I was curious about that brand! How do you like it? Would you recommend yours for someone in the market for griddle inserts?
@@meatthinker it was a good pick for me. We do lots of cooking on both gas grills. Outside more smash burgers, sausage, fajitas and the occasional steak. Stuff that will really splatter. Inside is more breakfast. I also bought a 22k btu Blackstone that has yet to have been used. Interestingly enough the handles on the Made In fit my home gas oven perfectly like a carbon steel rack. May try a flatbread or something else in that configuration.
There is a regular drip plan at the bottom of the grill but it would make a lot of mess and could start a grease fire if it gets too hot. It’s one of a few downsides of using this as griddle. Thank you for watching!
Just bought one of these, and I’m extremely unhappy. The seasoning process left uneven stains across it, and what was immediately dismissed as oil burning off unevenly during seasoning was later revealed to be a teflon coating pealing off. I tossed it over my cinder block fire pit supported at the corners, and the teflon surface began peeling back. After cooking it off for over an hour I then took a wire wheel to the surface discovering the cookoff was not complete. I’m boxing this back up and returning it. I’ll cut some steel diamond grate and weld it to a few pieces of round stock. Save $100 and not get poisoned.
This should be straight up carbon steel and the seasoning layer would be the only ‘coating’ this griddle should have. You must have gotten a bad one. Sorry it didn’t work out!
Yes, their website does show one with 3-burner Summit 2024 version. www.weber.com/US/en/griddle/full-size-griddle-inserts/genesis-full-size-griddle-%E2%80%93-300-series/6788.html
Does the griddle fit on the built-in shelf while you’re using the grill grates? And is it sloped downwards to the back to drain the grease towards the slot, or just level? I don’t mind sopping up the grease with a paper towel like you do but I’m just wondering if it pools in any direction.
Hey, you have to remove the grill grates first and put the griddle in its place. If that’s what you are asking. When it is installed, it lays flat without slope and the grease does not pool in any direction. Hope this helps! Thank you for watching!
I definitely wanted a large frying pan and didn't care for all the grease splattering, smell, and mess inside my home. This is definitely something I will be purchasing. Thanks for the clear and well-structured review!
Chefs actually prefer a flat surface for cooking beautiful steaks. Either a grill top or cast iron pan. Plus, you can cook seafood, prawns, veg and smaller items like seen in this video without it falling through the grates. I’m looking at one of these for my Weber grill so that I can do most cooking on it…outside now that we are in the 3rd week of a heat dome and don’t dare add 1 extra degree to my homes heat.
The genisis with the Weber crafted options is the best Weber I’ve ever owned. I have the SPX 435. Having the ability to have half griddle, half grates is awesome for cooking full meals that require different cooking methods. The ease of switching out the griddle, searing grates, or pizza stone game changing. I seasoned the griddle once, now just scrape off the food and wipe it down with a paper towel. I do store the griddle inside as opposed to the side cabinet just to avoid rust from the humidity. Not sure if that’s necessary, but it’s easy enough so better safe than sorry. My last 06 genesis is still going strong and almost 20yrs old. One of the few products left tha the name represents quality.
Thank you for the comment! I agree about the quality - you buy once and cry once! I do think that older generation models are higher quality than what is available now. It is still better than other brands but I wish I bought mine sooner. Hope you get to enjoy yours for many years to come and come back to watch more videos! Thank you for watching!
I don't have this insert but i have a little griddle brand griddle for my weber spirit. The pros over a blackstone or even a weber griddle is these propane grills have a functional lid. You can retain heat longer, heat the griddle faster because you can close it. You can get these things super hot because of the functional lid. You can use the warming tray to finish off a seared steak or vice versa. I also have the new weber traveler 22 inch griddle. The lid is non functional but i love to use it when I go camping. And a plus is that the griddle plate fits perfectly on my weber spirit. As if it was actually made for it. But my favorite for griddle cooking is my weber spirit amongst other thing's.
Amen to the functional lid! It makes the cooking go faster! I would like to try the travel griddle too! Buying a Weber has need a great investment for having so much fun in the back yard. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and comment. Please come back for more!
Why not remove the enamel "Flavorizer Drip Bars" too. That may help speed up the heating process. Thanks for the video.
You know what? I may just do that before my next cook. Didn’t even think about that! Thank you for the idea! And appreciate you watching!
My kids got me one of these for Father's Day. I've watched all the vids, thought it would be fun and interesting. My friend has a Blackstone that his kids got him, it's a dedicated griddle. both of us have discovered it's not for us. the pros, does what it's supposed to and results in a good cook. cons - the mess, the stuff you have to have on hand, the disposal of the mess, all the extra tools, the controlling 3 or so foods at one time. maybe after ALOT of practice it may be more fun but for now it's just another thing we have to store.
I do agree you have to spend a lot more to buy more things to be able to cook. It does make a mess and it gets HOT! Maybe I need to do a video for those extra items people don’t know about before getting into the griddle game!
I bought this on sale about a month ago and it works great! You’re right about it taking a while to heat up and once you start cooking something cold you would have to make sure you have a hot spot to flip it on. Otherwise very good quality… maybe next year will be a dedicated flat top Weber!
Glad it worked out for you! I just made some smash burgers this week and I’m still loving it! Thank you for watching the video and leaving me a comment! I’m just happy that my review aligns with your experiences!
The other pro I forgot to mention was the ability to close the top unlike other flat tops!
I used mine for about 2 months. It was amazing and used it almost everyday. UNTIL the huge grease fire. The fire ended up ruining the griddle insert. I finally bought a dedicated griddle. Live and learn but it did show me how awesome griddles are so no regrets
Dedicated griddle it is! Hope you enjoy yours for many years to come! No regrets!
good analysis!
Thank you for watching!
Con 1 and 5 are the same also 2 is not true IMO. The great thing about this being a grill insert is the grill lid. The trick is simply this, turn on the grill and close the lid. When the temp on the gauge reads 400 degrees, you are ready to rock! 5 to 8 minutes tops!
Yes, I can see that. I do agree with using the lid! Thank you for sharing that! Awesome idea!
I’m scratching my head wondering why you didn’t clean the griddle before inserting it into the grill!!
You are right! I should have. I need to stay on top of that. Thank you for the comment!
Excellent review. How much does the full size insert weigh? Thank you
Thank you for watching! I haven’t weighed it but pretty heavy. It’s more than 15 pounds for sure.
As much as I wanted one for my Genesis 310 I opted for the Made In carbon steel griddle. Less expensive, fits in my indoor gas cooktop and easier to clean. The only real downside is the size vs the Weber.
Thank you for watching the video! I was curious about that brand! How do you like it? Would you recommend yours for someone in the market for griddle inserts?
@@meatthinker it was a good pick for me. We do lots of cooking on both gas grills. Outside more smash burgers, sausage, fajitas and the occasional steak. Stuff that will really splatter. Inside is more breakfast. I also bought a 22k btu Blackstone that has yet to have been used. Interestingly enough the handles on the Made In fit my home gas oven perfectly like a carbon steel rack. May try a flatbread or something else in that configuration.
I've been eyeing on a Blackstone but I just wish I had more space. Please let me know how you like yours after firing it up for the first time!
Great review! Could you add a little drip can or cup?
There is a regular drip plan at the bottom of the grill but it would make a lot of mess and could start a grease fire if it gets too hot. It’s one of a few downsides of using this as griddle. Thank you for watching!
@@meatthinker Thanks for the tips!
Just bought one of these, and I’m extremely unhappy. The seasoning process left uneven stains across it, and what was immediately dismissed as oil burning off unevenly during seasoning was later revealed to be a teflon coating pealing off.
I tossed it over my cinder block fire pit supported at the corners, and the teflon surface began peeling back. After cooking it off for over an hour I then took a wire wheel to the surface discovering the cookoff was not complete.
I’m boxing this back up and returning it. I’ll cut some steel diamond grate and weld it to a few pieces of round stock. Save $100 and not get poisoned.
This should be straight up carbon steel and the seasoning layer would be the only ‘coating’ this griddle should have. You must have gotten a bad one. Sorry it didn’t work out!
Do you have any problems using a metal spatula? I thought this is a ceramic coating?
It doesn’t have any coatings so you can use metal spatula. I personally haven’t had any issues so far!
Hello, is there a summit version? I can’t find any that is full size.. the only one I found is very very small..
Yes, their website does show one with 3-burner Summit 2024 version.
www.weber.com/US/en/griddle/full-size-griddle-inserts/genesis-full-size-griddle-%E2%80%93-300-series/6788.html
Does the griddle fit on the built-in shelf while you’re using the grill grates? And is it sloped downwards to the back to drain the grease towards the slot, or just level? I don’t mind sopping up the grease with a paper towel like you do but I’m just wondering if it pools in any direction.
Hey, you have to remove the grill grates first and put the griddle in its place. If that’s what you are asking. When it is installed, it lays flat without slope and the grease does not pool in any direction. Hope this helps! Thank you for watching!
Grease management SUCKS on this this. Who thought it would be a good idea to scrape this crap down the back of the grill?
I don't know why I would want to turn my grill into a large frying pan, when I already have a frying pan.
Yes, it is a large frying pan but it’s a frying pan that cooks delicious food! Something about cooking in high heat!
I definitely wanted a large frying pan and didn't care for all the grease splattering, smell, and mess inside my home. This is definitely something I will be purchasing.
Thanks for the clear and well-structured review!
Chefs actually prefer a flat surface for cooking beautiful steaks. Either a grill top or cast iron pan. Plus, you can cook seafood, prawns, veg and smaller items like seen in this video without it falling through the grates. I’m looking at one of these for my Weber grill so that I can do most cooking on it…outside now that we are in the 3rd week of a heat dome and don’t dare add 1 extra degree to my homes heat.